A Forgotten Kitten (Sea-anan Saga Book 2)

by Kong, Jessica A

  Areo could not believe her ears. “For eight years!”

  The beautiful golden giant nodded sadly.

  “Dear God! You mean to tell me that you slept for eight years without waking up?”

  Again, he nodded.

  Areo was flabbergasted. She could not believe it. Well, that explains where he’s been for the last eleven years. A new question occurred to her. “But…what about Challen? What happened to him? If he was with you aboard the Emerald Tiger, then he should be here.”

  Sev lowered his eyes and said in a hushed tone, “Challen died. He was killed trying to return to his mate and kittens.”

  Areo’s pain was instant and overwhelming. In an effort to keep control, she squeezed her eyes tightly shut, but her tears could not be corralled. The floodgates burst open.

  Sev rushed to her side. “Areo, are you all right? Why are you crying?”

  Areo shook her head negatively, unable to respond. She could not tell him the truth that her beloved uncle had died trying to keep them apart. It was best to leave Sev in the dark. Ten minutes passed before she was able to stop the tears from falling and excuse herself. She left Sev in the council room and went to her room.

  Back in her room in Medical Wing C, Areo faced her window with swollen, unfocused eyes. Her mind was turned inward, replaying her conversation with Sev.

  Sev had spent his teen years asleep. He had missed the thrill of living through the most impressionable time of his life. It was when children explored and experimented that they discovered truths and gained the knowledge necessary to help them become the mature beings they were meant to be. Sev never had that chance. Those important years of his life were gone; he could never go back in time to live them. The thought pained her.

  Areo leaned her forehead and palms against the glass. Her sights cleared once the tears fell. It took a moment for her to register that the docking bay, like the entire castle, had gray, steel walls. “How ugly.” She sniffled.

  The door to her room opened. Jugar entered unannounced and stopped by her bed. “Are you all right?”

  She regarded the dear face. Jugar looked the same as he had on Oceana eleven years ago. He wore a pair of smoky-gray pants, perfectly pressed, a white flowing shirt tucked neatly into the waist, and well-polished, black, calf-high boots. His light-gray eyes were a startling contrast to his tawny skin and dark, shoulder-length hair.

  “You guys need to put up some drywall in this place. I feel like I’m in a sardine can.” The imagery reminded Areo of a coffin, and she suddenly felt angry at seeing the cougar without Challen by his side. “Which reminds me…” She walked up to him. Poking her finger into his chest, she asked, “Why the bloody hell are you here while Uncle Challen is dead!”

  Jugar’s head jerked back. “Well, excuse me for living.”

  “You know very well what I mean!” she snapped, her fists flying to her hips. “What the bloody hell happened to Challen? Where in the blazes were you? Weren’t you supposed to be his shadow?”

  Jugar’s light-gray eyes turned deadly. “Don’t you dare insinuate anything!” He stepped forward menacingly. “I would have gladly given my life for that cat. I loved him like a brother!” He growled at her.

  Tears sprung to her eyes. Areo knew he spoke the truth. Her anger was inappropriate. “I’m sorry, Uncle.” She swiped at a tear, sniffed, then hugged herself. “I’m sorry. Tell me what happened.”

  “We were aboveground at Oren’s castle, preparing the Emerald Tiger for liftoff,” he started. “Everything was falling apart around us. Challen had received news from Lance that you’d snuck away with Sev—again. The two of you had returned to Catlantis. He was enraged. He had hoped his family was on board his ship the Star Gazer. So, we went after you.” He gave her a knowing smirk. “I don’t have to remind you how we found the two of you, do I?”

  “Just get on with it!”

  Jugar laughed. “So, you do remember.”

  “I’m not the one who was asleep for eight years and forgot everyone!”

  He bowed his head, knowing very well what she meant.

  “Why is he the only one who can’t remember?”

  “I’m not sure,” answered Jugar. “He was examined from head to toe. There is nothing wrong with him. Yet he can’t remember part of his childhood.” The gleam in his eyes changed. “And you are forbidden to refresh his memory. We do not want a repeat of what happened on Oceana. Understood?” he reminded her firmly.

  Areo knew her uncle was talking about the last attack on her family that had almost ended with her father and godfather being killed and all the females raped, had it not been for her brothers, male cousins, and their superior fighting skills.

  She unwillingly nodded. She desperately wanted Sev to remember their life together, the love they once shared. Alas, her uncle was right. Sev was now the king and she could not complicate his life by rekindling their love.

  “Go on, please,” she encouraged, wanting to know more.

  “After he snatched you out of there, Challen threw you into my arms and ordered me to take you to our ship the Star Gazer. He then grabbed Sev and left. After I returned to the castle to meet up with Challen, I was told where Challen disappeared to by a dying King Oren.”

  Dread crept over Areo as she listened to the answers to her long-held questions. Her legs felt weak; she needed to sit down. Jugar followed her to the bed and sat beside her.

  “When I finally found Challen, he was exiting the Emerald Tiger and had an odd look on his face. He instructed me to stay on board the Emerald Tiger and keep guard over Sev. I naturally protested when he told me he was returning to the Star Gazer. You cannot imagine how I felt when I saw he no longer wore his sword at his hip.”

  Areo gave him a puzzled look. “Why does Sev have it?”

  “I asked Challen about it. He said there was no time to discuss it. He had hoped we would both make it so he could explain everything to me.” His voice softened. “But in case he couldn’t, he told me the kitten inside would. When I questioned Sev, he told me that he had angrily confronted Challen. He had managed to grab a hold of Challen’s sword, and it came alive with power.”

  Areo was stunned. “The Sword of Power chose Sev as its new keeper?”

  “I didn’t believe it either until Sev showed me.”

  “I don’t understand. Challen’s blood doesn’t flow in him.”

  Jugar shook his head. “I have no answers, Areo. All I can say is that before Challen left, he made me promise that if anything should happen to him, to tell Carol Ann and his kittens that he loved them with all his heart. And to his entire clan, to say that he would always be with them in spirit.”

  Areo tried to be strong, but her love for Challen and Carol Ann had grown during their absence. The pain of losing them was still raw. She covered her face with her hands and cried. She willingly leaned into Jugar when he pulled her into his strong embrace.

  “How did it happen?” she asked minutes later.

  “The sword displayed a gigantic tidal wave engulfing the city of Felidae.”

  Areo felt an immense sorrow swallow up her soul. She placed her head against Jugar’s chest and sobbed. She cried for everyone who had died, especially Challen and Carol Ann. And she cried for everyone who had suffered, including Sev.

  The bell rang. “Come in,” called Jugar.

  Sev paused with one foot inside the private room. His eyes swooped over the couple once, and an intense emotion overtook him. He emitted a soft growl.

  “What’s wrong?” asked Jugar.

  “I was about to ask you the same thing.” He sent another challenge, but Jugar made no move to release Areo. Sev clenched his fists and asked, “What are you doing here? I thought you were in town building homes for our citizens.”

  “I was, but I came to see Areo.”

  “For what reason?”

  “That’s between Areo and me.”

  Sev jolted to attention. “I think you’d better leave. Now.”

&
nbsp; Areo lifted her head from Jugar’s chest and looked at Sev.

  Unperturbed, Jugar addressed Areo. “I have to go, but if you want, we can talk later.”

  Areo placed her palm against his cheek. “Be careful, please.”

  Jugar smiled in response.

  With fury swirling inside him, Sev hissed at Jugar’s departing back. The instant the doors closed, he pounced on Areo with questions.

  “What was that all about? Why were you in his arms? What were the two of you talking about? Well, answer me!” he hollered, not giving her time to string together a reply.

  Surprised by his behavior, Areo simply stared at him for a moment. “What’s gotten into you?”

  Sev took a few angry steps in her direction. “What do you mean, what’s gotten into me?”

  Areo leaned backward, away from him. The fear that leapt into her eyes did not sit well with him. Areo being afraid of him was the last thing he wanted, so he tried to calm down.

  “Why was he here?” he tried again.

  “He told you. He came to see me.”

  “Why?”

  “Because I had to speak with him.”

  “About what?” Sev bit out through gritted teeth.

  Areo wiped her cheeks. “Nothing.”

  “Nothing? Nothing!” He loomed over her. “Oh no, I most certainly think there was something going on in here.”

  This time Areo stood her ground. She stood from the bed. “Like what?”

  “Like…you tell me.”

  “I already told you. We had something to discuss.”

  “Something that can only be discussed with Jugar?”

  She nodded.

  Sev angrily scratched his head. He was at a loss. Why did finding Areo in another male’s embrace make him feel like strangling someone, namely Jugar? “How interesting. A complete stranger is creating and exchanging secrets with one of my Seacats.”

  “It’s not like that—”

  “Then why not clarify it for me?”

  Areo took a long breath. “Because, Sev, you wouldn’t understand.”

  “Try me.”

  “I can’t. I’m sorry.” She bowed her head.

  “You can’t, or you won’t?”

  “Both,” she mumbled.

  Sev was disappointed and angry at Areo’s response. He could not bear to be around her any longer. Without saying another word, he spun on his heels and left the room, leaving Areo to cry alone.

  Thursday, the 24th of December, Year 2020

  Oceanica

  After staying at the castle for six months, Areo had every bulging muscle on Sev’s body memorized. He had wanted to move her out of the private room in Medical Wing C long ago, but to his consternation, she had declined. She could not tell him the reason for her refusal: that from the window, she could watch him helping Miko with the repairs to her ship.

  Seeing him brought her joy, especially on a day like Christmas Eve. Her family had always been a closeknit group. But losing Challen, Carol Ann, Sev, and Jugar during Oceana’s destruction had served to unify her family even more. They each made every effort to spend as much time together as possible, during Christmas and Thanksgiving in particular. And though she was worried sick about her family, she was grateful for having found Jugar and Sev alive and well. She believed locating them was her gift from her creator.

  But Areo had the sinking feeling Sev wanted her off Oceanica. She had been told that he had placed a rush job on her ship’s repairs. She whimpered and covered her face with both hands. She knew she had a war to return to, but she had not seen Sev since Oceana’s destruction. He was obviously not the same cat he had been during her youth. Against her uncle’s wishes, she had given in to her desires and secretly tried to get to know the new Sev.

  Unfortunately, after finding her in Jugar’s arms, Sev would not give her the chance. Whenever she approached him, he used every excuse to not speak to her. It wounded Areo, for she saw no logical reason for Sev to be so angry. All she had done was speak to Jugar. Sev went so far as to bluntly express displeasure when she spoke with any of the men. It irritated her. Outside from Uma and Serena—whom she had little in common with—who else did she have to talk to—the cold steel walls?

  She focused on Sev from the window. She would have to take matters into her own hands if she was going to get to the core of Sev’s behavior, overcome it, and get to know this intriguing new feline. Inhaling a deep fortifying breath, Areo decided that it was time to once again check on the progress to her ship’s repairs. With her head held high, she left the window and exited her chambers.

  Areo entered the docking bay and found Miko and Sev underneath her ship, tinkering away. Angel had disappeared. She looked beneath the ship and called out in a friendly voice, “Hey, you guys! How are things coming along? You’ve been at it since I arrived. Any new progress?”

  Both men came out from underneath the ship to greet her. They towered over her, and neither wore a shirt. Their muscles glistened beneath the bright lights. Miko wiped the sweat off his brow with a small towel he had tucked in his belt. Without his notice, Areo searched, found, and held Sev’s gaze.

  Angel came up behind her. “We have—somewhat,” he answered.

  Areo turned to speak to the snow leopard. “What do you mean by somewhat?”

  “Are you sure you know nothing about the mechanics of this ship?” asked Miko.

  Areo shook her head. “I told you, I only know how to fly it. I left all the mechanical mumbo jumbo to my siblings. I’m sorry. I wish I could provide more help.”

  Miko smiled. “No problem. We will figure this out somehow. But do not expect it to be anytime soon. The ship’s technology is extremely complex. I cannot even figure out what sort of energy you used as fuel.”

  Areo’s expression showed that a light had gone off in her head. “Oh shit!”

  All three felines fixed their eyes on her. “What?” asked Sev.

  “Blast it!” Areo stomped her right foot on the floor. “Why didn’t I remember it before?” She stomped it again. “Damn it! Bloody hell!”

  Sev was surprised to hear Areo use an Oceanan expression combined with a foreign one. It seemed like his cats were rubbing off on her. “What’s wrong?”

  In a temper, Areo whirled in place and banged her feet on the ground several more times. “The bloody technology!”

  Sev struggled to suppress his smile. The pint-size female was adorable. As she continued, though, he went from feeling fascinated to astonished.

  All three men had identical looks of shock and confusion on their faces by the time she finished.

  Areo pointed to her ship. “The bloody technology used to create this blast-it ship. It’s a bloody hybrid created by my siblings!” When their expressions did not change, she went on to explain. “It’s a mixture of technologies from different races, improved upon to make the ultimate technology.” She banged her chest. “Our personal technology!” Her hands landed on her hips. “Only those trained by my family know how this bloody shit works. You’ll never figure it out, because you’ve never met any of the aliens we’ve come in contact with. It’s a giant jigsaw puzzle!” Areo thrust her fingers into her curly hair, did an about-face, and screamed in frustration.

  “She does have a flair for the dramatics, wouldn’t you agree? I wonder who she takes after,” commented Jugar from the doorway.

  Sev noted Jugar’s relaxed posture. He was leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest. Even from that distance, Sev could see the twinkle in Jugar’s eyes. Prior to Areo’s coming, Jugar had spent 90 percent of his time alone. He had kept busy building lair after lair for their citizens. Jugar seemed to be happier since Areo had arrived. He had slowed down on building homes and spent a great deal of time with her.

  The ever-present jealousy simmering in Sev’s heart bubbled over. “What do you mean?” He moved closer to Areo, subtly challenging the older male.

  Jugar bestowed Areo with a dashing smile. “Private joke
.”

  Sev’s anger flared. He glowered first at Jugar. “Private?” He turned to Areo. “Joke?”

  Areo pressed her lips together and spared both men a quick look. “Ignore him.” She addressed Miko. “Don’t go crazy trying to solve this”—she pointed to her ship—“monstrosity. I’ll just increase the beacon’s power. Hopefully, someone will pick up the signal and come for me. Before I do that, can I look at your star charts? I want to know exactly how far I am from my home. That way, I can adjust the strength of my signal.”

  “Sure, no problem,” volunteered Angel. “Come with me. I will show you.”

  “Thanks.”

  Sev’s glower followed Areo as she walked back to the lair. He saw her playfully punch Jugar in the arm as she passed. Jugar laughed. He stopped when Sev paused in front of him.

  “I’d better not find out there is something intimate going on between the two of you.”

  “Or what?” Jugar straightened up. He was a tall cat at six foot nine, yet he still had to tilt his head back to meet Sev’s darkening features.

  “You don’t want me to answer that, Seacat.” Sev’s eyes sent a clear warning before he stormed out of the docking bay.

  He went to his chambers on the tenth floor and threw himself onto his bed like a sulking teen. He grabbed a pillow and placed it underneath his chin. Jugar had asked what would happen if he became intimate with Areo. Sev would end it, even if it meant one of them had to go. The thought of Areo with any male but him made Sev sick to his stomach.

  His attraction to Areo was undeniably strong, and it continued to grow daily. Sev felt as if he had not had Areo in his arms, or in his bed, for a lifetime. It was taking its toll on him. Many times, his lust had threatened to boil over. In fear of giving in to his need, he went off alone. He would not force Areo into mating with him, no matter how he felt.